About Golem

Klezmer-rock band Golem was founded by Annette Ezekiel Kogan in New York City in 2000. Since then, the band (Annette Ezekiel Kogan, Aaron Diskin, Jeremy Brown, Curtis Hasselbring, Taylor Bergren-Chrisman, Tim Monaghan) has become a leading re-interpreter and innovator of Yiddish and Eastern European music, pushing tradition forward into the 21st century. Golem performs nationally across the United States and internationally, in clubs and festivals in France, Germany, Poland, Sweden and Mexico. After self-released album “Homesick Songs” (2004), Golem released two albums, “Fresh Off Boat” (2006) and “Citizen Boris” (2009) on independent Jewish label, Jdub Records. Their new release, “Tanz” (2014) on the prestigious Mexican label Corasón Digital and produced by Tony Maimone of Pere Ubu, marks a conscious move into new territory, with mainly original material. The album was released to great critical acclaim and was reviewed on the NPR program “Fresh Air.” Golem’s music has been featured in several films and documentaries from the U.S., Germany and Russia, and most recently the band performed on an episode in season 4 of the hit television show, “Louie.” Golem is known for its virtuosic musicianship, theatricality, humor and fearless wild energy, combined with a boundless love of tradition. Golem is clearly “not your grandparents’ klezmer.” (NPR)

The Players

Annette Ezekiel Kogan accordion

Annette Ezekiel Kogan

Vocals, Accordion

Founder and leader of Golem, Annette Ezekiel Kogan is a performer, singer, writer, dancer, linguist and pianist who picked up the accordion in order to learn Ukrainian and Russian tunes, and then fell in love with Yiddish song. With this extraordinary group of musicians, Annette is able to combine all her passions, bring raw material to the band from her research and travels, and add the special twist that makes it all Golem.
Aaron Diskin vocals

Aaron Diskin

Vocals

Aaron Diskin is an artist living and working in New York City. In addition to playing with Golem he can be found stirring up trouble with his bands Flying Teeth, Predator Prey, and Lycaon Pictus. Otherwise he is usually encountered making photographs, or paintings of waves and water.
Jeremy Brown violin

Jeremy Brown

Violin

In front of the chuppah at a Hasidish wedding or onstage in a bar on the Lower East Side, Jeremy Brown has been a string player since the day he picked up a cigar box with a ruler attached in his first Suzuki class. Jeremy plays viola and violin with “Pitom”, who have released two albums on John Zorn’s Tzadik Records. His first solo album, "This Year in St. Louis", was released in 2001. He consistently exceeds OSHA regulation limits when playing acoustically.
Curtis Hasselbring

Curtis Hasslebring

Trombone

Curtis Hasselbring is a composer, trombonist and guitarist who has spent the last 20 years in New York City’s experimental, jazz and world music scenes performing and recording with such diverse artists as Medeski Martin & Wood, Frank London, Tom Harrell and John Hollenbeck. Curtis appears on over 80 recordings including three releases as a leader with his group, the New Mellow Edwards. He also leads a busy life creating electronic music under the name Curha.
Taylor Bergren Chrisman bass

Taylor Bergren-Chrisman

Bass

Self-taught on electric bass and formally schooled on upright, Taylor Bergren-Chrisman is a Los Angeles native who began his musical career playing gypsy-jazz in Paris, France shortly before moving to NYC and joining Golem. Since then he has cultivated a deep interest in traditional music of Eastern Europe and beyond. From 2009-2012 he traveled as part of the cultural exchange program American Voices to teach and perform old-time and bluegrass music, playing with local musicians and visiting many countries including Yemen, Turkmenistan, Algeria and Belize.
Tim Monaghan drums

Tim Monaghan

Drums

Tim Monaghan is a Brooklyn-based drummer, with a BFA in jazz performance from the New School. Tim has experience performing and recording many styles of music from rock (J.A.C.K., The Walkmen), soul (Deva and The Delmonts), psych-folk (Brute Force), to classical (Hunter Symphony). He is currently working toward a Master’s in Music Education from Hunter College and hopes to pursue a dual career of musician/music educator.
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